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THE VOICE 



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SEA AND LAND. 



ROBF.RT CHAWNIvR. ITbushkr. 
323 4K St. N. W., 

\V A S H I N C. T ON, D . C . 



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Third Series, "The Crow's Parliament." 



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ROBKRT CHAWNKR, Publisher, 

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Bntered according to act of Congress in the year 1893 by 
Robert Chawner. All rights reserved. 



PREFACE. 

It is the opinion of the writer, tliat cyelones and their 
destrnctive effects, occnring witli such regularity every 
year, should receive more attention from all thought- 
ful people than is usually accorded to them in the daily 
press. The tornadoes of the present month alone 
[March 1893] have destroyed more than two millions of 
property, besides a great number of persons who were 
either killed or maimed for life. The States which suf- 
fered most were Louisiana, AIississi])pi, Tennessee, 
Kentucky, Arkansas, Alabama, j\[issouri, Indiana and 
other places. 

If one may judge ])y the conduct of most of our peo- 
ple, it would seem that tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, 
volcanos, and other manifestation of omnipotence, aie 
such very trifles in themselves, in comparison with the 
great catch-penny interests of the day, that they only 
excite a momentary curiosity, and leave no permanent 
impression, save when their own pecuniary interests 
are concerned. 

By reference to the appendix, the reader may easily 
perceive that all the incidents recorded in the follow- 
ing rhymes did not all take place at the same time or 
locality, but occured at various points in the States 
in the past year. And although the hundredth part 
has not been written, yet enough has been set forth to 
enforce the great truths the author means to convey. 

EASTER MONDAY, 1893. 



To the Rev. Joseph Reynolds, Jr., Rector of St. Mary's Church, 
Mott Haven, New York City. 

The author's works are respectfully dedicated. 

"Come behold the works of the L,ord what desolations he 
hath made in the earth." Psalm 46:8. 

"Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. 
Psalm 48: J. 



THE VOICE OF THE CYCLONE 



Sea and Land, 



When the wild geese-- north are going, farmers then 

are busy sowing 
Golden grain from Ceres storehouse, as their fathers 

did before. 
Then the mallard and the widgeon, snipe, and teal and 

the wood pigeon 
Fly in thousands o'er the prarie to the far Canadian 

shore, 
There secure from gun and bludgeon, rear their young 

forevermore. 

How high the cranes and wild geese soar. 

*Last winter W. D. Little, one of the adobe farmers on the west 
of the town, shot into a band of geese. A white gander was 
struck and one wing broken. Mr. Little took the goose home and 
gave him to his boys, who doctored his wing, and he soon became 
so tame as to follow the boys wherever they went, eat from their 
hands and even poke his head into their pockets for corn and 
wheat. A few days ago a band of wild geese, flying over the 
premises and making their usual clatter, attracted the attention 
of the domesticated gander, which gave an outlanisli display of 
quacking and shrill yells in goose language that had a most start- 
ling effect with the band flying past. A fine white goose was seen 
to leave the band and shoot down until it landed in the yard at the 
side of the pet, and the meeting was demonstrative to an exciting 
degree. Their gabbling, quacking and amusing antics afforded 
as much fun for the boys, who witnessed the meeting, as they 
could have found at a circus. The new arrival, which is probably 
a mate of the now tame goose, refuses to leave, but will fly over 
the fence when the two are approached by the boys, and then fly 
back to the mate when the boys step aside. — Biggs i^Buiie County) 
Argus. 



6 THR VOICE OF THE CYCLONE. 

Wounded cranes will fight like lancers; with their beaks 

they're splendid fencers ; 
Sportsmen wise will not molest them, lest they fall 

into a snare. 
When they make their sudden dashes, on your cheeks 

they'll plant some gashes ; 
Chase you over fields and ditches as a dog pursues a 

hare ; 
Send you home without a breeches, while the neighbors 

at you stare ; 

Wherefore sirs I say beware. 



Some are bound (we tell no stories) for the Artie circle 

glories; 
There the heavens with their beauty, lure the artist 

more and more. 
Orange into yellow shading, violet into lilac fading, 
Twilight splendours sunsets, glory on the far Alaskian 

shore ; 
Purple, yellow, crimson fusing round the polar door, 
Russia's flag waves there no more. 



From the south the wind is blowing; feathered hosts 

are northward going ; 
Bluebirds, finches, larks and thrushes, doves and wrens 

and chicadees ; 
Friend art thou of birds a lover, mark the reed birds, 

rail and plover; 
See those kites how high they hover o'er the titmouse 

and pewee. 
How the buntings fly to cover, while the warblers 

from them flee. 

Safe in the shelter of a tree. 



THE VOICE OF THE CYCLONE. 7 

See the clouds with sunshine beaming, on the hill tops 

glory streaming ; 
Every insect now is humming, every dew drop flushing 

light; 
Now the rainbow spans the valley. Out O friends and 

with me sally, 
While the radance seems to dally o'er the meadows 

green and bright ; 
Hear the joyful thrill of gladness from each bush and 

tree and height ; 

What a banquet of delight. 

Now the stillness is unbroken, and the prophets give 
no token 

That a frightful change is coming, darkening all the 
earth and skies. 

Thunder, lightning is the token. Majesty itself has 
spoken ; 

When the hurricane and tempest, and the fierce tornado 
flies; 

Sudden ! yes, and unexpected takes good people by sur- 
prise ; 

When the wind at night doth rise. 

Woods and forests once in beauty, now no longer do 

their duty, 
Holding back the rain and moisture, dying verdure to 

restore; 
Shall we say in this connection forests were our grand 

protection. 
Since the forests they are stripping, floods come down 

with thundering roar; 
Even saplings they're clipping, babies from their 

mother's tore, 

Wounding nature to the core. 



8 THK VOICK or THK CYCIvONK. 

Planted without hands or labor, growing each beside 

his neighbor, 
On the mountain slope or valley, where the water 

courses flow ; 
Planted without hands or labor, like the cedars on 

Mount Tabor ; 
Shelter, shade and food refreshing, from the sun and 

wind and snow ; 
Signs and monuments of ages, teaching all the wise to 

know, 

Man's a pilgrim here below. 



Some for centuries were growing, twenty hundreds 

plainly showing, "^^ 
Grand, majestic, graceful, towering, who their age doth 

celebrate ; 
Ere the Saxon or Roman faced the Britons and their 

bowmen, 
Saplings were these giant gum trees, who their height 

can calculate ; 
Higher than the great sequoias, found in California 

State. 

Feet four hundred seventy eight. 



*The Bo-Tree of Ceylon is, in all probability, llic oldest liisiori- 
ral tree in the world. It was planted 2S8 years before Christ. Com- 
pared with it, the Oak of Kllerslie is but a sapling, and the Con- 
queror's Oak in Windsor Forest barely numbers half its years. 
The Yew-trees of Fountaine Abbey are believed to have flourished 
there twelve hundred years ago; the Olives in the Garden of 
Gethsemane were full-grown when the Saracens were expelled 
from Jerusalem; and the Cypress of Soma, in Lombardy, is said 
to have been a tree in the time of Julius C;tsar; yet the Bo-Tree 
is older than the oldest of these, by a century, and would almost 
seem to verify the prophecy pronounced when it was planted, 
that it would ''flourish and be green forever." 



THE VOICE OF THE CYCLONE. 9 

Soon shall we dry up the rivers, stop the mills with 

looms and weavers. 
Shall we let the christian savage hew down all the 

forest trees, 
Change the climate, cheat the reaper, just for pnlp to 

make brown paper ? 
Where is now the joyful reaper with his bosom full of 

sheaves? 
On the banks of Don and Dneiper — how each patriot 

heat it grieves, 

When no harvest there he sees. 

Ah ! distinctly I remember oft in June or mild Septem- 
ber, 

Herds of antelope and bison browsing on the praries 
wide. 

Slaughtered were they without number, (like the trees, 
only for lumber), 

Ky those streams that once grew timber, for the price 
of paltry hide ; 

There the sage cocks brood could slumber, and the 
ruffled grouse could hide, 

'Neath the willows by their side. 

Our poor Indian though a savage, never yet did nature 

ravage. 
Awe and wonder venerating natures great mysterious 

power ; 
Reverence deep doth he inherit for the great eternal 

Spirit, 
When the thunder and the lightning flash destruction 

to our door ; 
When the spring the earth's renewing, views with love 

each bud and flower. 

Grateful for her plenteous store. 



10 THE VOICE OE THE CYCLONE. 

Science (though her wares she's crying) never yet could 
find him buying ; 

"Trash'' saith he, "its next to lying, it can never make us 
blest." 

Science is the devils cooing, while he has some trouble 
brewing ; 

White squaw listened to his wooing, gave her know- 
ledge — not the best ; 

What is he to this day doing? robbing life of all its 
zeast. 

"White squaw never is at rest." 

Trusting- to the all-wise Father, much he never cared 

to gather 
Piles of gold and brick and lumber — food sufficient for 

the hour ; 
Gather much we fools discover, dying have we nothing 

over. 
Like the manna in the omer, what was over soon got 

sour ; 
Who for wealth will be a rover, find, shall he when 

life is over. 

Wealth a shadow, nothing more. 

Think O man how great the pleasure, joy was theirs 

that know no measure. 
When the angels (God inviting) saw the worlds in 

space flash by ; 
Ages worked he at his leisure, making earth his choicest 

treasure ; 
Think O man how great their pleasure, shouted they 

for joy ; 
Think O man how great the treasure he hath given 

thee to enjoy, 

Wherefore wilt thou it destroy. 



THE VOICE OF THE CYCLONE. 1 1 

Now have we deranged the weather, pay men well to 

tell us whither 
Cyclones come, their course, suspecting their duration 

and their power ; 
Aiding farmers in selecting, (after study and reflecting) 
Cyclones that injure less or more those from mountain 

or from shore, 
Pardon beg we if reflecting on the famous signal 

corps 

At Washington or Baltimore. 

Men have we who mend the weather,* making rain as 

men make leather ; 
When the soil is dry and parching, sending rain in 

plenteous store. 
Ye great men who mend the weather, tell us truly, truly 

whether 
Sunshine too for wintry weather why not send to each 

man's door. 
Twins are they that none can sever, sunshine, rain, 

forever more ; 

Send us both we now implore. 

*Department of" Agriculture, Oefice of the Secretary, 

ll'ashitigfon, D. C, June jo, iSgr. 

Sir : Your appointment as special agent of this Department is 
hereby extended and continued for the fiscal year ending June 30, 
1882. Y'our duties, as heretofore, will be making of "experimenst 
in the production of rainfall," in pursuance of the provision for 
the same in the appropriations of this Department for the fiscal 
year ending June 30, 1892. You are hereby authorized to take full 
charge of said experiments and incur any expenses therefor that 
in your judgment are necessary, not exceeding the sum of I7.000. 
You are authorized to engage any experts, to purchase and have 
transported any material, and make said experiments in any place 
you choose, and the traveling expenses of yourself and employes, 
vour own compensation, and all expenses, will be paid out of said 
fund. You are authorized to do things you may deem necessary 
in the premises for a complete trial of your experiment ; and all 
expenses herein authorized are to be properly presented, on 
vouchers, to this Department on or before the expiration of this 
commission. 

Respectfully, J. M. Rusk, 

Secretary. 

Mr. Robert G. Dyreneorth, 

Washington, D. C. 



12 THE VOICE OF THE CYCLONE. 

With baloons both light and airy, mounting np like 
any fairy, 

Near the clouds where eagles wary, watch your move- 
ments every hour ; 

Pierce the clouds with clubs and wattles, cork the sun- 
beams up in bottles ; 

Hogsheads, demijohns and barrels, kegs and puncheons 
by the score ; 

Coming down ye need not hurry, Mess your bags be 
rent or tore, 

Gods )e'll be that all adore. 

Clouds across the sky were flitting, while I by the fire 

was sitting. 
Pondering over ancient pages and the worthies of the 

days of yore, 
When the mastiff crouched for petting, while the angry 

clouds were getting — 
Blacker— then he courted petting which, he never did 

before ; 
Strange lights played on the ceiling, next danced upon 

the floor. 

Ere the rain began to pour. 

Brutes, they say have double vision, or some sort of 
intuition ; 

When a spirits' on a mission, oft to shield, defend or 
slay, 

Others say its superstition ; never have they such com- 
mission. 

Yet an angel had permission, (so they said in Balaam's 
day) 

When a brute came in collison, with an angel in the 
way, 

When for greed he far did stray. 



The VOICE OF THE CYCLONE. I 3 

Some the price of hogs were quoting, others busy were 
in noting, 

Who should fill the highest station, when the voting 
day be o'er; 

Women busy were in baking, others fancy dresses mak- 
ing; 

Some were hats and ribbons matching, newly pur- 
chased at the store ; 

Dresses silken some were patching 'mong the prattlers 
on the floor. 

Dresses that they'll want no more. 

While of politics discoursing, others were engaged in 

forcing 
Prices up of lands and houses, farms and homesteads 

by the score ; 
Wliile a cyclone young lay. nursing, when he's grown 

he'll end discoursing 
Politics in many places; what cares he for rich or 

poor, 
On his way he'll soon be coursing, many States he'll 

travel o'er. 

From Wellington to Baltimore. 

Some poor wretches he'll find napping; comes he with 
no gentle tapping, 

Like some friend that's gently rapping, rapping at a 
neighbour's door. 

But with violence astounding man, and all his works 
confounding ; 

On his way he'll soon bounding, bursting in the iron 
door 

Like a ship that's doomed and grounding where all cere- 
mony is o'er, 

When she sinks to rise no more. 



14 THE VOICE OF THE CYCLONE. 

Presently the air grew colder, while the storm without 

grew bolder, 
Then I summon every shoulder, knee and muscle to 

the door. 
Ah ! it was a dreadful tussle, straining every nerve and 

muscle, 
While the frightened children nestle in a corner on the 

floor; 
While the babies cries were louder, louder than I ever 

heard before, 

Till the dreadful storm was o'er. 

All the air is in commotion, grand, sublime, as when 
the ocean 

Booms its billows and its breakers on the wild Atlan- 
tic shore. 

Petreel and albatross crossiug ships that by the waves 
are tossing ; 

Waves in tumult madly tossing barks so frail with all 
their power ; 

Fleets and sailors madly tossing, all the sail to ribbons 
tore : 

Till the hurricane is o'er. 

Whirlwinds of dust and cinders now the range of vision 
hinders. 

Clashing clouds next madly flyiug, now exchange elec- 
tric fire. 

Hear the doors and windows creaking, while the 
staunchest house is leaking ; 

Where no man could find a crevice with a needle or a 
wire. 

Water with such fury driven lanes and streets are now 
a mire. 

What is worse than water — fire. 



THE VOICE OF THE CYCLONE. I 5 

Seethe wretches helther-skelther, flying anywhere for 

shelter 
From the dreadfnl flashing lightning, to some open 

friendly door. 
Flight gives them the deadly pallor, seeking any cave 

or cellar 
Till the lightning, dreadfnl lightning and the hnrricane 

be o'er ; 
'Tis the prehide to the cyclone with its deadly work in 

store ; 

'Tis the prelude, nothing more. 

Mights and powers are now contending, on the earth 
their fury spending, 

Like the passions and the furies raging in the breast 
within ; 

Darkness there its aid is lending to the fate for us im- 
pending, 

Like the darkness of Mount Sinai showing Israel their 
sin. 

Mercy too from heaven was bending hearts to soften 
and to win, 

In that wilderness of Zin. 

Now a new horror is impending, from the mountain 

top descending. 
Comes an avalanche with fury, down the mountains 

steepest side ; 
For a mountain now is flowing, every thing before it 

going ; 
Every thing before it sweeping, earth and rocks and 

forests wide, 
Piles of hemlock, spruce and maple, floating in the 

surging tide. 

Carried down by the landslide. 



l6 THE VOICR OF THE CYCLONE. 

Now the ocean's bed is quaking and the solid earth is 

shaking, 
While volcanoes are in action, half a dozen if not 

more, 
And the waters through are leaking, while the crust is 

quickly breaking. 
Who the fires within are raking, while its furuaces 

doth roar; 
For its slimy bed is shaking while the waters through 

doth pour. 

Frightful is volcanic power. 

Ah ! it was a sight appalliug, chimneys, gables 'round 

us falling ; 
Hear the windows, how they rattle, casements forced in 

by the score ; 
See the frightened, flying cattle, fl\ing from great 

natures battle. 
Through the woods the storm now dashes with terriffic 

crush and roar, 
Houses by the score it crashes, bursting iu at every 

door. 

Prelude to the cyclone, nothing more. 

Rivers from the clouds are falling, men to cattle loud 

are bawling. 
Sheets of fire and sheets of water; fields are lakes, and 

lakes are seas ; 
Meteors everywhere are glaring, stoutest hearts there' 

badly scaring ; 
Men who swore there was no deluge, now are wading 

to their knees. 
Shall there be a future hell-age? Aye, doubt it reader 

as you please. 

Men grow hardened by degress. 



The voice oe the cyci^one. 17 

Scenes are here that far surpass bog or fen or wild 

morass, 
Quagmire, sleugh or dismal swamp without rushes or 

the reeds ; 
Hogs and chicken coops are floating ; some poor 

wretches take to boating, 
While from the house-tops some are noting many great 

heroic deeds ; 
Wliile the water madly surging over everythitig it rides. 
Who can stop the flowing tide? 

Never yet hath Gaul or Norsemen, with their swords 

and spears and horsemen. 
Beat with such terriffic fury, as the hail beat on our 

door. 
Even churches they were crumbled, while toombstones 

they were jumbled 
All together, like the British and the Sepoys at Cawn- 

pore, 
Where the savages were humbled as they never were 

before. 

Where Britian rules forevermore. 

Some there be that heed no teachers till there come 
those mighty preachers, 

Earthquakes, floods, cyclones, volcanos, nature then 
asserts her power, 

WHiile the devil is deceiving all the foolish unbe- 
lieving. 

"Earthquakes, famines, pestilences, we have often seen 
before," 

How can such things be a prelude to the dreadful 
judgment hour, 

"When we saw them oft before?" 



1 8 THE VOICE OF THE CVCLONK. 

Shall the sun and the clouds with moisture shed o'er 

earth both life and verdure, 
Or with energy destructive, desolate our earth once 

more ? 
Foolish man knows not his master, who can check or 

send disaster ; 
Tho' our folly brought it faster, faster to our nations 

door; 
Trees no more retain their moisture, for the forests are 

no more ; 

What folly could have done more ; 

Why should sun and stars for ages work for us with- 
out their wages, 

Fruitful seasons to us sending corn and wine a plenteous 
store ? 

Why should moon and tides attending thankless 
creatures us befriending, 

From diseases us defending, sweeping filth from each 
man's door, 

When our ways we are not mending, when there's 
strife now every hour? 

Deadly strife 'tween rich and poor. 

Now who caretli for his neighbor, what's this capital 

and labor. 
Brawling, murmuring, striking, fighting, discontented 

every hour? 
Soon will need the knife and sabre, kill each man his 

next door neighbor. 
What's the cause of this behavior, heartless rich and 

thankless poor? 
Who will be his country's saviour, pierce the evil to the 

core ? 

Thanks he'll have forevermore. 



THK VOICE OF THE CYCLONE. I9 

Man so wretched and so feeble, does he need from 

powers of evil, 
Power and grace protecting till his pilgrimage is o'er ; 
Travelling, working, waking, sleeping, not one step 

without God's keeping. 
Would the ancient sages wander in the foolish days of 

yore ? 
Men of science read and ponder — what great truths 

have you in store 

That shall live when time is o'er? 

Men of science (who revile us) what think ye of Paul 

and Silas, 
Praises singing in the prison, when an earthquake 

shakes the floor? 
Was the earthquake slave or master, did it speed them 

on the faster? 
What said Paul to the shipmaster when all hope of life 

was o'er ? 
Storms and waves bring no disaster when the Lord 

I serve is near ; 

Wherefore sir, be of good cheer. 

Read we in the old evangel, men devout prayed for an 

angel 
Night and day with tears entreating, heaven to guard 

their house and store. 
Now who sues to heaven for blessing, all is business, 

ease and dressing, 
Ploly thoughts with men are fleeting as the clouds of 

morning o'er ; 
Angels, blessed angels, greeting, guard the sons of toil 

no more, 

L/ike the saintly days of yore. 



20 THE VOICE OF THE CYCLONE. 

When the cyclone strnck Towanda, like the storm that 

struck the Armada, 
Ships full many with their cannon to bombard old 

England's shore ; 
Sails were into ribbons tattered, ships were into 

splinters shattered ; 
Frigates, galleys full of sailors ; Phillip sent full many 

a score. 
By the tempest they were battered, scattered on the 

Spanish shore. 

Who ever did the loss deplore ? 

Born of sunshine, cloud and vapor, sun the sower and 
the reaper; 

On the mountain or the ocean, where the eagle oft doth 
soar. 

There the thunder and lightning, oft the Indian sad is 
frightening ; 

On the earth its power its spending to destroy or to re- 
store ; 

Bread for man and beast God sendeth day by day to 
each man's door ; 

Thankless creatuies evermore. 

Shapen like a fiery column, grand the sight, sublime 

and solemn. 
Like the fiery cloudy pillar that appeared on Egypt's 

shore ; 
Comes it with revolving motion, over land and lake 

and ocean. 
How the very earth is quaking, shaking mountains to 

the core ; 
Such a quaking and a shaking in the centuries before, 
On the trao^ic Red Sea shore. 



THE VOICE OE THE CYCLONE. 21 

Some from India's West come hailing, catching small 

craft slowly sailing 
From St. Thomas, or Barbadoes, while their way they 

calmly beat. 
Happy he who warns the sailor, be it brig, or bark, or 

whaler, 
" Heralds " the approach of danger by his cable or his 

sheet, 
He to fame shall be no stranger where the learned oft 

doth meet ; 

Him the mariner shall greet. 

Rising oft, and oft-times stooping like an eagle, conies 

it swooping 
Down on mansions, honses, stables, while the hail and 

rain doth pour. 
Swiftly as an eagle, snatching roofs of houses up, its 

catching, 
Lifting up and then down, dashing houses, both of rich 

and poor ; 
O ! the dreadful, dreadful smashing, great is its electric 

power ; 

O ! the terrors of that hour. 

Here it comes with power majestic, black without, with- 
in electric. 

Bounding, leaping, seething, hissing with its dreadful 
crash and roar. 

See it dancing on the river, how the oaks and beeches 
quiver ; 

God, O God ! our souls deliver, speed them to some 
friendly open door. 

Now it is across the river, no time mercy to implore, 
When aestructiou's at our door. 



22 THE VOICK OF THE CYCLONE. 

Short ten minutes, all is over, sally forth till we dis- 
cover 

What appalling sights and visions cyclones leave for ns 
in store. 

Fences, barns, and endless lumber, every path and road 
encumber ; 

Tho' the deluge and the tempest and the thunderbolts 
are o'er. 

Many killed how great their number, hasten now till 
we explore ; 

How shall we the sights endure. 

Little Willie's picking cherries, where's the child, the 
tree, the berries ? 

While the mights and powers thus wrestle, and the de- 
luge down doth pour, 

Fiercely was the tree uprooted, though an instant it 
disputed 

With the fury of the tempest, Willie poor Willie, is no 
more. 

Mother's to her Willie" flying, crying that he is no 
more ; 

Only one of many score. 

Foolish Joe a nest was stealing, while the thunder loud 
was pealing; 

Where is Joe, and where's the sparrows, now the hurri- 
cane is o'er? 

How the fathers heart it harrows, finds he Joe and his 
young sparrows ; 

To his home his Joe he carries, stained all over in his 
gore; 

Who can tell the days he marries what the griefs for 
him in store. 

Till his pilgrimage is o'er. 



THE VOICE OE THE CYCLONE. 23 

One poor father, the bread winner, sitting down to un- 
touched dinner. 

Killed beside his wife and daughter, who were hurled 
to the floor. 

Who will be the next poor sinner sitting down to un- 
touched dinner? 

Many cyclones every summer shall be, till eighteen 
ninety-four; 

Many houses crushed each summer by the awful cy- 
clones power, 

When the angry clouds doth lower. 

Haste ye neighbours verifying, by your witness certify- 
ing 

Where the churches and the houses stood, now the 
hurricane is o'er ; 

Hasten to the children crying ; hasten to the widows 
sighing. 

Here the cyclones desolation leaves the impress of its 
power ; 

Need have they of consolation in this sad and dread- 
ful hour. 

Homeless are they now, and poor. 

Clear of wires electric stepping, over cattle dead, now 
leaping 

Over oaks and elms and beaches, and the shady syca- 
more ; 

Waters over bridges leaping; where's the towers that 
watch were keeping? 

Giant trees lie cleft asunder by the lightnings vivid 
power ; 

Fields of grain, how great their number, ruined in one 
fifth an hour. 

Orchards too have felt its power. 



24 THE VOICE OE THE CYCLONE. 

See those gaunt unsightly gables, what remains of man- 
sions stables. 

What lies here ? — the printing presses, with their type 
strewn in the mire ; 

Whence came all our modern babies, but from printing 
lies and fables? 

Here too lie the broken tables ; where men wrote strange 
things for hire. 

What becomes of lies and fables, reader, friend, doest 
thou enquire ? 

Fuel for devouring fire. 

Here they kept the toys called engines, ah, the cyclone 

had his vengence ; 
Swifter than theMocomotive, stronger thousand times 

or more. 
Here in splinters lie the coaches, ground to fragments, 

like the roaches 
Under giant footsteps trodden, hideous mass upon the 

floor. 
Here the firemen all lie sodden, breathing steam, they'll 

breathe no more. 

What is man's inventive power? 

Now these banks are full and brimming, Ah ! there 

was some dreadful swimminof • 
When the mines, the waters filling, then for life they 

seek the shore. 
Like the snow from mountain alpine, so the waters 

filled the coal mine ; 
Here the miners_^had such swimming as they never 

had before. 
When the cloudburst, rivers filling, every creek twelve 

feet or more. 

Fifty drowned at least or more. 



THE VOICE OF THE CYCLONE. 2$ 

Men who live by money loaning, their sad fate are now- 
bemoaning; 

Bonds and mortgages are floating like a boat npon the 
seas. 

Lawyers too are londly groaning, not for sins that need 
atoning, 

Bnt for parchments, deeds and titles, what they call 
securities. 

How secure are all your titles? tell us truly if you 
please, 

When the future no man sees. 

Here we go — there's no evading, waters deep we now 
are wading ; 

Waters rushing, surging, foaming, where the cloud- 
burst spent its store. 

Yonder see the fires are raging, all the firemen's time 
engaging, 

While they extricate the wounded, bruised and injured 
many score ; 

Homeless people by the hundred, homes have they on 
earth no more ; 

May they gain the heavenly shore. 

Ah ! there was some dreadful wailing from some 
boats for pleasure sailing, 

Filled with merry-making people, on the lake too far 
from shore. 

Struck by tempest and by lightning, bride and bride- 
groom sadly frightening; 

Suddenly the boat upsetting, scalding some and drown- 
ing more ; 

Choice of death by fire or water wdien too far from 
shore, 

Bride and bridegroom meet no more. 



26 THK VOICE OF THE CYCLONE. 

Yonder hall had many dancers, tripping lightly to the 

lancers ; 
Yonth and beanty there were dancing, dancing on the 

varnished floor. 
Merrily they danced together, quite regardless of the 

weather ; 
Partners meeting and advancing, future happiness in 

store. 
What cared they for wind and weather, such things 

they had seen before. 

Thoughtless people, nothing more. 

Some for charity go dancing, while the fiddlers bow 
goes glancing 

Up and down so gaily prancing, to the music's varied 
score. 

Others take delight in drilling, though no thought have 
they of spilling 

Blood, with broomstick, or with musket on the churches 
basement floor; 

Brooms were never made for killing save in the mali- 
cious hour 

When we're in a woman's power. 

Others too have gone romancing when it suits their 

fancy, glancing 
At the self-denying duties that attest religious power; 
Though to heaven their eyes go glancing, on the road 

they're not advancing ; 
Though they give of their abundance a pittance to the 

poor, 
By no sentimental glancing shall we gain the heavenly 

door. 

Saith the word that's ever sure. 



THE VOICE OF THE CYCLONE. 2/ 

Not to fill the cliiirclies treasure, gay and young they 

danced for pleasure ; 
Raffling none where dames of leisure, raffle for the 

churches poor ; 
Danced they to the tuneful measure, like as Madame 

Pompadour ; 
Danced for Louis regius, pleasure prancing on the 

palace floor ; 
Danced that he might die at leisure and on earth be 

seen no more, 

Careless of his life-long score. 

Where's the hall and where's the dancers, that so lately 

tripped the lancers? 
Suddenly without monition, lightning strikes them to 

the floor ; 
Without warning or monition, without prayer or its 

contrition, 
Frightful was the walls collision, windows broken by 

the score. 
Here we lay them in submission to the power we all 

adore, 

Watching for our dying hour. 

Here they lie, the bruised and strangled, O ! 'tis shock- 
ing how they're mangled ; 

Caught 'tween girders and the rafters, and the joists be- 
neath the floor, 

How their bloody clothes are tangled, here in ghastly 
rows they're mangled, 

Caught and held while flying to the ready open door. 

From such sudden death and dying. Lord deliver us 
forevermore. 

Meekly now we here implore. 



28 THE VOICE OE THE CYCLONE. 

Now physicians, surgeons, nurses, and good souls with 

open purses, 
Prompted by each generous feeling, all the sick and 

dying cheer. 
Crowds rush in, the rubbish clearing, smoky ruins 

little fearing. 
Food and clothing, tents and blankets now are sent 

from far and near ; 
Every man is a physician, every man's a volunteer. 
On some cheeks there's many a tear. 

Where in bible or in shaster, shall we find such dire 

disaster ? 
Coming fast, and coming faster on this nation every 

hour. 
Laws from heaven we're ignoring, therefore wrath is 

on us pouring ; 
Gods of gold are we adoring, can they save us by their 

power ? 
Oaths and cursing, lies and swearing, many crimes lie 

at our door ; 

Open still is mercy's door. 

Ere these bodies here we bury, summon now the judge 

and jury. 
Gentlemen there is no hurry, what's your verdict in the 

case ; 
Business men, ye wise or witty, say you will, great is 

the pity ; 
You who are so full of pity, from our doubts and fears 

release. 
Who sends evil on a city? who sent evil to to this 

place ? 

Now with death we're face to face. 



The voice oe the cyclone. 29 

Give an answer with precision, fools may have ns in 

derision. 
"Winds came madly in collision, spent their fnry in 

this place"; 
"Who gave the winds this high permission, have they 

no order or commission?" 
"That's the whole of onr admission, that's our verdict 

in the case ;" 
All the rest is superstition, priestcraft here we have 

to face. 

There's no providence or grace. 

Stormy winds (though sometimes killing) Gods behests 
are yet fulfilling; 

Fire and snow and hail and vapor, working each as 
they are sent; 

Were they sinners more than others? nay my friends, 
my sisters, brothers. 

Save ns Lord from second killing, now we would be- 
lieve, repent, 

In the diy of power be willing in thy service to be 
spent; , 

For our lives are to us lent. 

One short month that some call lunar with some 

longer, others sooner ; 
All's forgotten of the cyclone and its dread mysterious 

power. 
Up the buildiugs soon are hurried, who for losses need 

be worried? 
Back to dancing, feasting, revelling and the drama's 

witching power. 
Let the past be ever buried, trouble now is past and 

o'er. 

Thoughtless people evermore. 



30 THE VOICE OF THE CYCLONE. 

Forecasts both of hell and heaven are to us by iiatuire 

given ; 
iSIajesty benign and loving, gentle as an infant's breath. 
Foretastes both of hell and heaven, nnto man by God 

are given ; 
Majesty sublime and awful, foretaste of eternal death, 
Power almighty just and fateful, signal of the final 

wrath. 

This is what the cyclone saitli. 



THE VOICE OF THE CYCLONE. 3 1 



The Foi^lowing is A List op the Most Destructive Tornadoes 

Since 1S72. From the Report of the Chiee vSignae 

Officer at Washington, D. C. 

(i) November 22, 1S74, Tuscumbia, Colbert County Ala. 
Struck the town at 6 p. m. Nearly half the town of 1,400 
inhabitants destroyed. 10 persons killed and 3c wounded. 100 
buildings damaged or destroyed. Loss $roo,ooo estimated. 

(2) May 6, 1S76, Chicago, Cook County, 111. Moved from SW. 
to NE. accompanied by rain, thunder and lightning. Bound- 
ing like a ball it apparently reached the ground but two or three 
times. Loss 1250,000. 

(3) June 4. 1877, Mount Carmel, Wabash County, 111. 200 to 400 
feet wide. Great destruction of property. i6killed, loowouuded. 
Loss $4oc,oco. 

(4) July 7, 1877, Pensaukee, Oconto County, Wis. Moved from 
NVV. to SE. lasting about two minutes. 8 killed, many wounded. 
Loss 1300,000. 

(5) June I, 187S, Richmond, Ray County, Mo. Entered the 
town at 4:05 p. m. from the south sweeping everything clean. 
Heavy sills 18 inches square and 16 feet long were swept away. 
Path through the city 750 feet wide and i mile long in which space 
not a single house was left. 13 killed, 70 wounded, 100 buildings 
destroyed. Loss |;ioo,oco estimated. 

(6) August 9, 1878, Wallingford, New Haven County, Conn. 
At 5:45 a dark cloud approached from the west. "Electricity 
of the most ttrriffic kind filled the air.'' "vStraight rods of 
■fire came down from the sides of the cloud to the earth." The 
debris of houses were scattered along in parallel lines as though 
a mighty river had passed. The greatest destruction occurred in 
a path 400 feet wide and y, a mile long. 34 killed, 70 wounded, 
40 dwellings, 50 barns, i church and i schoolhouse were destroyed 
or badly damaged. Loss f2c:o,ooo. 

(7) April 14, 1879, Colliusville, Madison County, 111. Struck 
town at 2:45 p. ni. Nearly every grave-stone in cemetery was 
leveled. i killed, several wounded, 60 buildings destroyed. 
Loss 150,000. 

(8) April 16, 1879, Walterboro, Colleton County, S. C. Rain- 
fall after tornado, which struck at 3:45 p. m., was unprece- 
dented. Wind on north side had a downward crushing tendency, 



32 The voice of the cyclone. 

ou the south side an upward liftiug action. 4 people saw balls of 
lightning running along the ground. 16 killed, 50 buildings de- 
stroyed. Loss $200,000. 

(9) March 4, 1880, Indianapolis, Marion County, Ind. Moved 
from vSW. to NE. with a zigzag course through the city. Loss 
$roo,ooo. 

(10) April 18, :88o, Fayetteville, Washington County, Ark. 
Struck town at 8:30 p. m. Not a building escaped in its path, 
90 feet wide, through the town. 2 killed, 20 to 30 injured, 100 
buildings destroyed. Loss |ioo,ooc. 

(11) April 18, ]8So, Marshfield, Webster County, Mo. Struck 
at 5 p. ni., near town, trees 3 feet in diameter, for a space several 
hundred yards wide, were lifted entirely out of the ground. E;very 
house in the town of 2,000 people was destroyed or badly damaged. 
65 killed, 200 wounded. Loss $110,000. 

(r2) April 18, 1880, Licking, Texas County, Mo. Struck at 8:15 
p. m. Entire town of 388 people destroyed, except 3 houses; i 
killed, 17 wounded, 65 houses destroyed. Loss 150,000. 

(13) April 18, 1880, Beloit, Rock County, Wis. Struck at 5 p. m. 
Moved from SW. to NE. Several killed, many injured, many 
houses destroyed. Loss 175.000. 

(14) April 24, 1880, Taylorville, Christian County, 111. vStruck at 
7 p. m. 6 killed, 25 houses destroyed. Loss $60,000. 

(15) April 25, ]88o, Macon. Noxubee County, Miss. vStruck at 
8:30 p. m. 22 killed, 72 injured, 55 buildings destroyed. Loss 
f 100,000. 

(16) May 10, 1880, Arrowsmith, McLean County, 111. Loss|iioo,- 
000. 

(17) May 28, 1880, vSavoy, Fannin Counly. Tex. Time 10 p. m. 
Town almost destroyed. 15 killed, 60 wounded, 48 buildings 
razed. Loss 1^50,000. 

(18) June 14, 1880, Glendale, Hamilton Count}-, Ohio. Time 8 
p. m. Loss 180,000. 

(19) April 12, 18S1, Hernando, De Soto County, Miss. In some 
spots hailstones as large as iieus' eggs fell. Electricity and 
thunder not seen nor heard. 10 killed, 25 buildings demol- 
ished. Loss $50,000 estimated. 

(20) June 12, iSSi, Jackson, Andrew County, Mo. A great deal 
of destruction occured at King City. DeKalb County. In county 
and vicinity 5 killed, 80 buildings razed. Loss $250,000. 

(21) July 15, 1881, New Elm, Brown County, Minn. 6 killed, 
53 wounded, nearly 300 buildings destroyed or seriously damaged. 
Loss in town $174,677. 

(22) September 24, 1S81, Quincy, Adams County, 111. Time 5 
p. m. Storm accompanied by terrific lightning and thunder. 
9 killed, 21 buildings razed. Loss $100,000. 



THE VOICE OF THE CYCLONE. 33 

(23) April iS, 1882, Brownsville, vSaline County, Mb. Time 
4:20 p. m. 1 1 killed, 10 brick houses, 40 others and i school razed. 
Loss 1150,000. 

(24) May 8, 1882, McKinney, Cleveland County, Ark. 50 build- 
ings destroyed. Loss 130,000. 

(25) May 8, 1882, Mount Ida, Montgomery County, Ark. Time 
5:30 p. m. 2 killed, 100 buildings demolished. Loss 150,000. 

(26) June 17, 1882, Grinnell, Poweshiek County, lOvva. Time 
8:45 a. m. 60 killed, 150 injured, 140 houses reduced to ruins in 
5 minutes. Loss f6oo,coo. 

(27) April 22, 1S83. lieauregard, Copiah County, Miss. 
Time 3 p. m. livery house and store destroyed in the town 
of 600 people. Solid iron screw of a cottonpress weighing 675 
pounds was carried 900 feet. 29 killed, 40 wounded. Loss f 450.000. 

(28) April 22, 1883, Wesson, Copiah County, Miss. 13 killed, 
60 injured, 27 houses destroyed. Loss |2o,ooo. 

(29) May 13, 1883, Kansas City, Jackson County, Mo. Time 8:30 
p, m. 200 houses destroyed. Loss in town and vicinity, $300,000. 

(30) May 13. 1883, Macon City, Macon County, Mo. Time 8:30 
p. m. 5 killed, 107 buildings razed. Loss 1150,000. This de- 
struction and loss may include the whole county. 

(31) May 13, 1883, Oronogo, Jasper County, Mo. 6 killed, t,t, 
injured, nearly all houses destroyed. Loss 175,000. 

(32) May 18, 1883, Racine, Racine County, Wis. Time 7 p. 
m. 16 killed, 100 injured. Loss 5)^75,000. 

(33) June 2, 1883, Greenville, Hunt County, Tex. Time 7:15 
p. m. I killed, several wounded, 40 houses razed. Loss 170,000. 

(34) June II, 1883, Brush Creek. Fayette County, Iowa. Town 
one third destroyed. Loss |4o,ooo. 

(35) August 21, 1883, Rochester, Olmsted County, Minn. Time 
6:36 p. m. Large part of town destroyed. 26 killed, 135 houses 
destroyed. Loss in county .1^200,000. 

(36) February 19, 1884, Leeds, Jefferson County, Ala; Time 1:20 
p. m Hail of unusual size. 11 killed, 31 wounded, 27 houses and 
many barns destroyed. Loss $80,000, estimated. 

(37) April 27, 1SS4, Jamestown, Green County, Ohio. Time 5 p. 
m. 6 killed, two-thirds of buildings destroyed. T^oss $200,000. 

(38) July 21, 1SS4, Dell Rapids, Minnehaha County, Dak. Time 
3:05 p. m. 7 killed, many buildings destroyed. Loss $ioo,(XX). 

(39) September 9, 1884, Clear Lake, Polk County, Wis. Time 5 
p. m. Greater part of town in ruins. 3 killed, 40 buildings de- 
stroyed. Loss $150,000. 

(40) August 3, 1885, Camden, Camden County, N. J. Time 3:20 
p. m. Path from one to two squares wide. 6 killed, 100 injured. 
500 houses razed or unroofed. Loss $500,000. 



34 THE VOICE OF THE CYCLONE. 

(41) September 8, 1S85, "Washington Court House, Eayette 
County, Ohio. Time 7:30 p. m. Width of path 250 feet. Town 
almost destroyed. 6 killed, 100 injured, 40 business houses and 
20 residences razed. Loss ^500,000. 

(42) April 14, 1886, Coon Rapids, Carroll County, Iowa. Time 
5:05 p. m. I killed, 32 buildings razed. Loss 155,000. 

(43) April 14, 1886, vSt. Cloud, Sterns County, and Sauk Rapids, 
Benton County, Minn. 74 killed, 136 wounded. 138 buildings 
destroyed. Loss 1:400,000. 

(44) May II, 1S86, Kansas City, Jackson County, Mo. 33 killed. 
Loss |ioo,ooo, estimated. 

(45) May 12, 1886, Attica. Fountain County, Ind. Time about 6 
p.m. In vicinity 9 killed, 200 houses razed. Loss |:2oo,ooo. 

(46) April 15, 1887, St. Clairsville and Martin's Ferry, Belmont 
County, Ohio. Time 3:20 p, m. None killed. About 200 build- 
ings of all kinds demolished. Loss 1250,000. 

(47) April 21, 18S7, Prescott, Linn County, Kans. Time 5:30 p. 
m. 20 killed, 237 wounded, 330 buildings razed in the vicinity. 
Loss 1150,000. 

(48) April 22, 1887, Mount Carmel (near), Wabash County, 111. 
Time 6 p. m, 2 killed, several wounded, everything in path de- 
stroyed. Loss I50.000. 

(49) April 22, 1887, Clarksville (near), Johnson County, Ark. 
Time 6:30 a. m. 20 killed, 75 to 100 injured in vicinity. Loss 
1150,000. 

(50) June 16, 1887, Grand Forks, Grand Forks County, Dak. 
Time 3:22 p. m. 4 killed, 50 or more houses, besides hundreds 
of barns, etc., razed. Loss, |i5o,ooo. 

(51) February 19, 1SS8, Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, 111. 
18 killed, 54 wounded, 100 buildings razed. Loss 5400,000. 

(52) May 27, 1888, Hillsboro, Hill County, Tex. Many build- 
ings destroyed Loss |ioo,ooo. 

(53) August 21, 1888. Wilmington, New Castle County, Del. 
1 killed, 20 wounded. Loss $100,000 to |2oo,ooo. 

(54) January 9, 1889, Brooklyn, Kings Count}-, N. Y. Time, 
7:40 p. m. (Eastern). Width 500 to 600 feet; length 2 miles; 
whirl from right to left. Roar heard 10 or 15 minutes before. 
Loss 1300,000. 

(55) January 9, 1889, Reading, Berks Count}-, Pa. Time 5:40 
p. m. Swept from west to east in a path 60 to 100 feet wide. 
Wind often seemed to crush from above; 40 killed. Loss $200,- 
000, estimated. 

(56) January 12, 1S90, St. Louis, vSt. Louis County, Mo. Time, 
4 p. m. Moved to northeast in a path 500 to 2,000 feet wide. 



THE VOICE OF THE CYCLONE. 35 

Heavy rain for three niiuutes. Greatest damage where path was 
narrowest. 3 killed, 100 houses razed. Loss 1250,00c-. 

(57) March 27, jSgo, Metropolis, Massac County, 111. i killed, 
50 injured. Loss $150,000. 

(5^) March 27. 1S90, Louisville, Jefferson County, Ky. Time 
7:30 p. "1. Path at beginning 600 feet, as it left the city, 
1.500 feet. Cloud did not quite reach the earth. Great damage 
to property 76 killed, 200 injured. Loss, #2,250.000. 

This list comprises all the most destructive storms that have 
been reported as far as a definate locality was mentioned. It has 
been found exceedingly difficult to determine the loss in many 
cases, because an estimate has evidently been made of the loss 
to crops, orchards, etc., from the rain, hail, and floods that accom- 
panied the tornado, and not the wind itself. Again, the loss re- 
ported evidently referred to a large region in the country and not 
to any specific town. Some of these may be enumerated as 
follows; 

Loss. 

June 12, 1.SS1, DeKalb and other counties in Mo $200,000 

November 5, 1883, Greene and other counties in Mo 150.000 

November 21, 1883, Izard County, Ark 3cx),ooo 

April 14, 1S86, Cass County, Iowa i6o,coo 

May II, 1886, Pettis and other counties in Mo 500,000 

May 12, 1886, Greene and other counties in Ohio 1,000,000 

May 14, 1886, Hardin and other counties in Ohio 720,000 

May 14, 1886, Huron County, Ohio 500,000 

May 14, 1886, Seneca County. Ohio ^00,000 

May 14, 1886, Mercer County, Ohio 250,000 

It is highly probable that in some of these cases the losses from 
one county have been estimated in another, though this has been 
avoided as much as possible. It is very much to be hoped that 
more definite estimates will be made in the future. The loss to 
structures by the wind should be carefully distinguished from the 
loss of every other kind, by hail or flood and to crops, stock or 
orchards. 

H. A. Hazhn, 
Assisianf /'/o/t-ssor, Si^-^/a/ Office. 

Destructive Tornados oe 1892. 
March 31, Townada, Kansas; May 27. Wellington, Kansas; June 
30, Gloucester, New Jersey; July 3, Kaston, Pa.; Julv 6, New 
Orleans and Baton Rouge, La.; July 13, Peoria. 111.; July 13, 
Springfield. 111.; July 13. Philadelphia, Pa.; November 18, Red 
Bud. 111.; November 28, San Francisco, Cal,; November 28, Mary- 
land and Virginia; March 5, 1893, Mississippi and Georgia. 



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